Orioles closing in on signing free-agent outfielder Francisco Peguero

Francisco Peguero spent most of last season at Triple-A Fresno, the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate.

Francisco Peguero spent most of last season at Triple-A Fresno, the San Francisco Giants' Triple-A affiliate. (Jake Roth, USA Today Sports)

Eduardo A. EncinaThe Baltimore Sun

The Orioles are close to signing outfielder Francisco Peguero, according to an industry source.

A deal is not complete and there are several teams interested in the 25-year-old, the source said Tuesday afternoon.

Peguero, who was designated for assignment by the San Francisco Giants last week and non-tendered on Monday, spent most of the past season at Triple-A Fresno, hitting .316/.354/.408 in 70 games and playing at all three outfield positions. He missed 12 games after a concussion in June.

He was 6-for-29 in 18 games for the Giants in 2013 and is a .207/.217/.289 hitter in 46 major league plate appearances over the past two seasons with the Giants, mostly as an injury replacement.

A former top prospect in the Giants system -- he was ranked as the club's second-best prospect by MLB.com in 2011, when he was also ranked fourth by Baseball America -- Peguero never really received an extended major league look. He made just nine big league starts with the Giants.

The acquisition of Peguero would add organizational outfield depth, meaning it doesn’t change the Orioles’ pursuit of a left fielder for next season. The club has re-signed outfielder Nolan Reimold to a $1.025-million one-year deal, avoiding arbitration, and would still like to re-sign Nate McLouth.